Run by Nessie promotes earlybird entries for 2021 marathon
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ENTRY for the 2021 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon officially opened today.
A run from Nessie officially opened super early-bird entry for the Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running 2021, which will take place on October 3.
The festival incorporates the marathon, River Ness 10K, Corporate Challenge, 5K and Wee Nessie.
It is a major fundraising event with 18 official charities involved and more than £1million raised for charity in 2019.
The 2020 event was marked with a virtual Runners Café last night. Held on Facebook and Instagram, the virtual event took the place of the popular pre-marathon event usually held at Inverness’ Bught Park the day before the festival of running.
The Runners Café was hosted by race commentator Bryan Burnett and included chats and Q&A sessions with sports presenter Vassos Alexander and endurance running coach Tom Craggs, as well as Malcolm Sutherland, event director of Baxters Loch Ness Marathon.
Also there to share food inspiration was Darren Sivewright, innovation chef from Baxters, as well as other contributors such as runner Fiona Rennie, who has run all 18 Loch Ness Marathons since it began in 2002.
Event director Malcolm Sutherland said: “We couldn’t let the 2020 event weekend pass without celebrating what we all love about the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running. Thank you to Bryan and our guests for sharing their Loch Ness experiences with us and chatting all things running.
"We hope it gave viewers a flavour of what makes this event so special and we already can’t wait to welcome you back in 2021. We know the Loch Ness Marathon is on many people’s bucket lists, and if 2020 has taught us anything it is that we should make the most of opportunities, so why not make 2021 your year and sign up?”
Earlier today, runners were encouraged to wear their Loch Ness Marathon t-shirts or something tartan and get out on a run to mark the start of what would have been the 2020 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon. Runners were asked to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #RunLochNess.
Viewers could also enter a prize draw and were asked to suggest their favourite songs for a RunLochNess playlist, which can now be found on Spotify at https://spoti.fi/36lhQXW .
Audrey Baxter, executive chairman and group CEO of Baxters Food Group, added: “The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running is one of the highlights of the year for us and many others and we are really excited to welcome people back to the event in 2021.
"I’m sure everyone will be looking forward to experiencing this very special event and Highland hospitality in person next year.”
Runners can sign up for super early-bird entry for the marathon here: www.lochnessmarathon.com .
